steer

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈstir 

1

: a male bovine animal and especially a domestic ox (Bos taurus) castrated before sexual maturity compare stag sense 3

2

: an ox less than four years old

steer

2 of 4

verb

steered; steering; steers

transitive verb

1

: to control the course of : direct

especially : to guide by mechanical means (such as a rudder)

2

: to set and hold to (a course)

intransitive verb

1

: to direct the course (as of a ship or automobile)

2

: to pursue a course of action

3

: to be subject to steering

the car steers well

steerable

ˈstir-ə-bəl 

adjective

steerer noun

steer

3 of 4

noun (2)

: a hint as to procedure : tip

steer

4 of 4

dialectal British variant of stir

Phrases

steer clear

: to keep entirely away

—often used with of

tries to steer clear of debt

Synonyms

Verb

• conduct
• direct
• guide
• lead
• marshal
• marshall
• pilot
• route
• show
• usher

Choose the Right Synonym for steer

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed.

guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of steer in a Sentence

Verb

She steered the ship through the strait.

He steered his car carefully into the parking space.

He steered the wheelchair through the aisles.

Skillful navigators can steer by the positions of the stars.

The car was steering right at us.

The boat steered out to sea.

He tried to steer the conversation away from his recent problems.

She skillfully steered the bill through the legislature.

He steered the team to another championship last year.

The high recent returns on stocks have steered many investors away from bonds.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Both provide the necessary steer for the plastic industry to develop better technologies. —Susan Solomon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2024

One police officer on a motorcycle, who just happened to have experience herding cattle, stopped to round up steers fleeing a truck that crashed on its way to the Union Stockyards. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Dec. 2024

Verb

But one of the pivotal accomplishments this year for SpaceX came Oct. 13 when the rocket booster was able to steer autonomously back to the landing pad, where it was caught with two giant mechanical arms. —Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 15 Dec. 2024

But, critically, Ferguson seems likely to steer clear of the types of sweeping rulemakingthat Khan had championed. —Brian Fung, CNN, 15 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English stēor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox

Verb

Middle English steren, from Old English stīeran; akin to Old English stēor- steering oar, Greek stauros stake, cross, stylos pillar, Sanskrit sthavira, sthūra stout, thick

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1894, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing steer

• steer clear
• steer (someone) wrong

Kids Definition

steer

1 of 2 noun

ˈsti(ə)r 

1

: a male domestic ox castrated before sexual maturity and especially one raised for beef

2

: an ox less than four years old

steer

2 of 2 verb

1

: to direct the course or the course of : guide

steer by the stars

steer a boat

steer a conversation

2

: to follow a course of action

3

: to be guided

an automobile that steers well

steerable

ˈstir-ə-bəl 

adjective

steerer

ˈstir-ər

noun

Legal Definition

steer

transitive verb

: to subject to steering

real estate agents steering Latino buyers